Love, Sodomy, and Scandal: Controlling the Sexual Reputation of Henry III

摘要: In 1589 Henry III, king of France, was addressed by an outraged subject as "Henry Valois, buggerer, son ofa whore, tyrant."1 The audacity calling a his family name and then attacking him in sexu? ally pejorative terms indicates not just the intensity ofthe anger directed at but inclusion popular fiiry markers sexual deviance. Indeed, legacy who reigned from 1574 to 1589, has been fraught with innuendo. Assumptions deviance, formulated lifetime, have used ever since explain problems reign, which ended assassination midst bloody civil war. Among recent iterations that negative image is Shekhar Kapur's 1998 film Elizabeth^ represents Henry, duke Anjou, silly, cross-dressing fop, more interested men ofhis entourage than courting queen England. this instance, others, inaccurate: it conflates never visited England, younger brother, Francis, Alencon, did court Elizabeth person renowned for flamboyant behavior. presents Henry's deviance merely fact explanatory fact: he bad because deviant. sexuality depicted similarly Patrice Chereau's 1994 La Reine Margot, based upon Alexandre Dumas pere's 1845 novel same name. having both incestuous desire sister, Marguerite, preference male com? pany. French history textbooks also include III's alleged misdeeds discussions reign. James B. Collins describes asserts "Henry's contemporaries believed